Statenvertaling

Statenvertaling is the common title of a Dutch translation of the Bible, thus called because this translation was ordered by the States General of the Netherlands. It was made in 1626-37 by a number of learned men and first appeared in 1637. At first the Mennonites, particularly the more conservatives among them, were opposed to the Statenvertaling, preferring their Biestkens Bible; but gradually they introduced the new translation, which was more exact than the Biestkens Bible. Among the Frisian and Flemish Mennonites the Statenvertaling was generally used from about 1650, but not until the 12th edition of T. J. van Braght'sSchole der Deugd of 1719 were the Bible texts quoted from the Statenvertaling. The Janjacobsgezinden and a few other strict groups did not use the Statenvertaling until the 19th century. After World War II the Statvertaling was generally replaced by a new translation published by the Dutch Bible Association (Bijbelgenootschap).